Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination in Older Veterans: Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Abstract

VA care was associated with improved influenza and pneumococcal vaccine coverage, although vaccination rates for all elderly veterans fell short of Healthy People 2010 goals. Increased efforts to reach undervaccinated groups, particularly blacks and smokers, are warranted.

Patient and family education in HSCT: improving awareness of respiratory virus infection and influenza vaccination. A descriptive study and brief intervention

“…This is lower than rates of 468% reported in comparable groups in Australia, 26 the United Kingdom 27 and United States of America. 28 Vaccination uptake of 18% in patients preparing for HSCT (for whom annual influenza vaccination is recommended) is particularly low, despite the majority of patients having a diagnosis of malignancy an average of 11.0 months before HSCT.…”

Comparing VA and Non-VA Quality of Care: A Systematic Review

“…51 Receipt of diabetes education and annual HbA1c tests was higher among VA patients compared with veterans in non-VA care. 52 VA patients were more likely than veterans receiving care outside VA to receive recommended diabetes care, including being twice as likely to have a foot examination and 60-70 % more likely to have an eye examination, two or more A1c tests, and two or more providers visits, 53 a routine checkup within 2 years (91.6 % among VA patients compared to 80.6 % overall; P < 0.001), 54 and influenza and pneumonia vaccinations (rates increased 10-240 %), 53,55,56 but similar rates of cholesterol screening. 55 Blood pressure control was higher among male African-American VA patients than male African-American non-VA patients (49.4 % vs. 44.0 %, P < 0.01) though similar among Caucasians.…”

Resources and Capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to Provide Timely and Accessible Care to Veterans

“…Receipt of diabetes education (Nelson et al, 2005) was higher among VA patients compared with Veterans in non-VA care. VA patients were more likely than Veterans not receiving any care at VA to receive recommended care (Lynch, Strom, & Egede, 2010;Ross et al, 2008), 1 a routine checkup within the past two years (West & Weeks, 2006), and influenza and pneumonia vaccinations (Chi, Reiber, & Neuzil, 2006;Jha, Wright, & Perlin, 2007;Keyhani et al, 2007) 2 , but the two groups had similar rates of serum cholesterol screening (Keyhani et al, 2007). Obese VA patients were more likely to have received advice to lose weight than Veterans and non-Veterans receiving non-VA care and equally likely to have received professional advice to maintain weight .…”